The Atlantic hurricane season, which has been relatively quiet so far, is now picking up pace. Hurricane Isaias has formed in the Gulf of Mexico. It is currently situated around 250 kilometres north of the Mexican coast and is heading towards the United States.

A hurricane warning is already in place for the coasts of Mississippi, Alabama, and north-west Florida. As things stand, Isaias is expected to make landfall in this region on Friday evening (local time) as a major hurricane.

There is then a risk of gale-force winds, heavy downpours, and severe flooding. There may also be significant disruption to road and air travel.

It took more than four months after the start of the Atlantic hurricane season for Isaias to form, narrowly missing a 121-year-old record. According to the US National Weather Service, the latest first hurricane of a season on record occurred in 1905 – on October 8th that year.